04/22/10-by Bridgette P. LaVictoire
Senator Amy Klobuchar is a sweet woman, but she is also fairly cautious. Unfortunately, this has meant that she is unwilling to co-sponsor a variety of legislation benefitting the LGBT Community, especially the Military Readiness Enhancement Act which her co-Senator Al Frankin Unfortunately, this has also meant that Senator Klobuchar is under fire from a variety of LGBT activists for her silence. At a rally held at the State Capital this Wednesday, criticism was leveled not only at Senator Klobuchar, but also at Governor Tim Pawlenty and Representative Michele Bachmann for being unwilling to work on LGBT issues ranging from marriage-equality to Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, and LGBT-inclusive immigration reform.

Veterans for Peace’s Wes Davey was highly critical of Klobuchar. The veteran who served in Iraq and Kuwait has been working to repeal DADT. He stated “Unfortunately, Sen. Amy Klobuchar’s name is absent form the list of cosponsors; her lack of support for the repeal is difficult to understand. Despite our campaign contributions and our overwhelming support for her during the 2006 election, Sen. Klobuchar’s lack of support has put her in the company of Michele Bachmann, Tim Pawlenty, John Kline and Collin Peterson. I’m asking you here today to say enough is enough.” Whether or not one could say that Klobuchar is in the company of people like Bachmann who has been known to say weird things because she is not vocal on LGBT issues, the problem is that Klobuchar has been silent on these issues.

Davey held up an anti-Klobuchar sign and stated “Join me in making a daily phone call,” he said. “Please get out your cell phone right now and take down her Washington phone number. If you are visually impaired, I will read that for you: 202-224-3244.”

Xavier Lopez-Ayala of Alliance for a Better Minnesota was critical of Klobuchar for not being willing to cosponsor the Uniting American Families Act, which is supported by Senator Frankin. The bill would allow LGBT Americans to sponsor their partners into the United States. Lobez-Ayala stated “You send a message from this state capitol to our representatives in Washington to make sure they understand that comprehensive [immigration] reform is not comprehensive unless it includes support for gay and lesbian couples. So, when you meet with your state senators, I want you to ask ask them to call Sen. Klobuchar and tell her to support the Uniting American Families Act and make sure we pass it through Congress.”

Hopefully, Senator Klobuchar will be far more willing to start sponsoring LGBT friendly legislation in the near future.

Klobuchar criticized for lack of leadership on gay, lesbian issues